Newtown Action Alliance and States United to Prevent Gun Violence Action Fund Endorse Governor Maggie Hassan for U.S. Senate

For Immediate Release
October 17, 2016

Contact:
Julia Wyman
julia@ceasefireusa.org

John Kelley
jkelley@newtownaction.org
917-679-6475

Newtown Action Alliance and States United to Prevent Gun Violence Action Fund Endorse Governor Maggie Hassan for U.S. Senate

Newtown, CT- Newtown Action Alliance and States United to Prevent Gun Violence Action Fund proudly endorse Governor Maggie Hassan for the U.S. Senate seat in New Hampshire now occupied by U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte.

Governor Hassan has led in the difficult fight against the gun lobby in New Hampshire. She has twice vetoed legislation that would have allowed individuals to carry weapons without a license. In the Senate, she has pledged to strengthen the National Criminal Background Check System to prevent terrorists and other dangerous individuals from purchasing guns online and at gun shows. Governor Hassan released the following statement after President Obama announced his Executive Actions on gun safety: “While these measures are no substitute for meaningful Congressional action, the safety of our families and communities cannot wait any longer as Congress fails to act. With a staggering number of mass shootings over the past year, it is long past time for Washington to take action to address these senseless acts of gun violence.”

Senator Ayotte, by contrast, has shamefully worked to block the Senate measures to reduce gun violence after the Sandy Hook tragedy. As a mother of two young children, it was surprising that she did not join her fellow Republicans (Susan Collins-ME, Mark Kirk-IL, John McCain-AZ and Pat Toomey-PA) to support the bipartisan compromise bill, the Manchin-Toomey Amendment, to close the loopholes in the National Criminal Background Check System, to keep guns away from dangerous individuals. In fact, she was the only Senator from the New England states to vote against the Manchin-Toomey Amendment. Despite her voting record, she has misled the voters into thinking that she voted for “the background check bill” when she approved the inadequate rival background check proposal that was endorsed by the National Rifle Association (NRA). She also voted against Senator Chris Murphy’s (D-CT) amendment for comprehensive background checks after the Orlando Pulse nightclub shooting.

The Americans for Responsible Solutions poll from June this year showed that 89% of Granite State voters support background checks. Despite the strong public support for background checks in her state, Senator Ayotte continues to ignore the will of her constituents in her pursuit of maintaining her A-rating from the NRA.

In addition, Senator Ayotte’s stance on prohibiting sales of guns to those on the TSA terror watch list has been inconsistent and marked by political expedience rather than a principled stand in favor of pubic safety. She originally voted against Senator Diane Feinstein’s (D-CA) bill to bar those on the terror watch list from purchasing guns before switching her vote six months later under considerable political pressure after the Orlando Nightclub shooting as her poll numbers were declining.

The Senate has failed to protect innocent Americans from gun violence. Over 400,000 Americans have been killed or injured by guns since a gunman with severe mental illness killed 20 innocent children and six educators in an elementary school in Sandy Hook, Connecticut. It is unfortunate that Senator Ayotte did not make gun violence prevention her legislative priority. She should be standing with the families of victims and survivors of gun violence to end gun violence in our nation.

The State of New Hampshire and the United States need Senators like Maggie Hassan to stand toe-to-toe against the gun lobby and work with Republicans, Democrats and Independents to fight for common sense gun violence prevention measures to end the scourge of gun violence in our nation.

This endorsement is made independently and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.

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The Newtown Action Alliance (www.newtownaction.org) is a grassroots organization formed after the tragic shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School. It works to make America’s children, families, and all citizens safer through legislative and cultural change that will reduce gun violence. Newtown Action Alliance is a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization.

States United to Prevent Gun Violence Action Fund, Inc. (supgvactionfundinc.org) is a 501 (C) (4) civic and education organization dedicated to preventing gun violence in all forms.